To Earlsmead, home of Harrow Borough who have won only 2 of 12 League games this season and are 3rd from bottom in the table. FA Cup success last week but they are struggling in the League. Among their ranks are former Saints, Richard Goddard and Fabio Valenti.
Cookie, looking for a third successive League victory, selected White in goal; 4 at the back: Gledhill, De Souza, Seeby and Murray; 4 in the middle: Williams, Wraight (C), Deacon and Oakes; and up front: McDonnell and Tomlinson. On the bench: Martin, Castle, Glynn, Hanson and, loan signing from Arlesey, Craig Reynolds.
This was a shocker.
Boro' opened the scoring in the 7th minute when the home captain, McKenna, was first to a loose ball 35 yards out and smashed a volley past the stunned White. He will never, ever score a more spectacular goal. 1-0. City had their chances early on. A few minutes later, McDonnell had a free header from an inch-perfect cross from Williams in the six yard box which he put well wide of the goal. Seeby snatched a snap shot from close range wide from an Oakes free-kick.
On 15 minutes, it was 2. Quick interplay down the left flank from the home half dragged the entire back 4 over to their right half of the pitch leaving Fitzsimon unmarked on the edge of the D. A quick pass found the striker and he placed the ball to the right of the stranded Walrus of Glove. 2-0.
Harrow took control as the City midfield seemed to vanish and gaps were found in the visitors defence with regularity. The crossbar, goal-line clearances, some poor finishing and heroics from White inside and outside the box kept the score at 2 until 36 minutes when the defence was split once again and a low cross from Valente was well met by McKenna who scored his second with a firm shot from just inside the box.
H.T. 3-0. If it was a boxing match, the referee would have stopped the fight.
I felt that The Saints could still get something for the game as the Boro' defence was clearly suspect but it needed a significant increase in effort and an early goal, neither of which came. Cookie made a double substitution within 10 minutes, Castle for De Souza and Glynn for Deacon, and just after the hour, Martin for McDonnell.
Martin was lively up front and a couple of chances were created. A header from close range by Williams fooled the home keeper. He must have thought that it was a back-pass as he decided to chest the ball, rather than catch it, presumably with a clearing volley in mind. Acrobatic, I suppose. He stepped backwards before catching the ball at the second attempt with City players and fans claiming the goal. The referee was not swayed.
10 minutes from time City scored a consolation when Martin was allowed a free header from a corner which was firmly despatched. 3-1. Harrow ended the game on the attack and White made a couple of good saves in the last few moments. F.T. 3-1.
This was a very poor performance by City. Little evidence of commitment, no passion. A defence far too easily and regularly exposed by a hard working rather than over talented Harrow side who might have scored six. Only White and Martin emerge with credit but that will be little consolation to them. Around 50 Travelling City Faithful in a crowd of 219.
Entertainment 1/10. Technical Merit 1/10. Referee 4/10. Atmosphere 2/10
Match report by Awayday |
